News and updates about masks

Is COVID coming back?

Health Ministry recommends masks

Ministry of Health recommends that people at high-risk use a mask in closed places to minimize the risk of infection.

Health Ministry recommends masks

Face-masks:

Meta-analysis shows lack of impact on disease

Cochrane reviewed over 600,000 participants in 78 randomized-controlled studies.

Meta-analysis shows lack of impact on disease

Ki Tisa and Shabbat Parah: Taking off the mask

Our Sages enacted that on the Shabbat (occasionally the final Shabbat) before Nissan, every Shul would read this decree of the Red Cow:

Ki Tisa and Shabbat Parah: Taking off the mask

Op-ed:

Haman is alive and killing today

Don't celebrate Purim without realizing there are contemporary Hamans hiding their loathing for Jews behind masks of false victimhood.Op-ed.

Haman is alive and killing today

Were face-mask mandates for kids politically motivated?

"A very solid majority favor school masking," reads email sent to Biden admin. officials

Were face-mask mandates for kids politically motivated?

Return of the masks? Movement calls for change in policy

Movement for social justice calls on Health Ministry to reinstate mask requirements, require COVID testing for international travelers.

Return of the masks? Movement calls for change in policy

Israel considering reimposing COVID mask mandate

Israel's coronavirus czar warns of steady increase in COVID infection rates, says Health Ministry may restore mask requirement.

Israel considering reimposing COVID mask mandate

Uptick in COVID-19 cases

Health Ministry recommends masks in closed spaces

Ministry of Health recommends that masks be worn in enclosed spaces in order to protect at-risk populations and the elderly.

Health Ministry recommends masks in closed spaces

New research:

Face-masks increase inhaled CO2 to dangerous levels

Effect even more pronounced in children, after just a few minutes of mask-wearing & without physical exertion.

Face-masks increase inhaled CO2 to dangerous levels

Israel announces end to mask mandate on airplanes

Health Ministry to drop requirement to wear masks on planes starting next week.

Israel announces end to mask mandate on airplanes

Yes to the world’ but no to Jews:Lufthansa's antisemitic scandal

The airline must recognize that its staff implemented an anti-Semitic policy and apologize for it if it wants to retain credibility. Op-ed.

Yes to the world’ but no to Jews:Lufthansa's antisemitic scandal

Mask requirement on flights likely to be abolished

Health authorities mulling ending requirement to wear masks on flights.

Mask requirement on flights likely to be abolished

New study: Face mask usage correlates with higher death rates

Using data from 35 countries and 602m people, study confirms previous research, cautions masks "may have harmful unintended consequences."

New study: Face mask usage correlates with higher death rates

Watch: Passengers 'rejoice' as masks come off mid-flight

Many Americans say they still prefer to wear protective masks to ensure their wellbeing.

Watch: Passengers 'rejoice' as masks come off mid-flight

US government appeals court ruling which lifted mask mandate

The move comes after a judge struck down the COVID-19 mask mandate, stating that it exceeded the CDC's statutory authority.

US government appeals court ruling which lifted mask mandate

Federal judge lifts CDC air travel, transportation mask mandate

Judge strikes down mandate after ruling that it was not lawfully implemented by the CDC.

Federal judge lifts CDC air travel, transportation mask mandate

COVID cases still rising but number of seriously ill stable

Prof. Nachman Ash: "We'll be able to lift face mask requirements soon."

COVID cases still rising but number of seriously ill stable

DeSantis to high school students: 'Take off your masks'

'Please take those off, they don't do anything,' Florida governor tells high school students. 'This is COVID theater.'

DeSantis to high school students: 'Take off your masks'

CDC:

Most of US population in areas where masks aren't needed

Some 93% of the US population live in locations where people no longer need to wear masks indoors, says CDC.

Most of US population in areas where masks aren't needed

House to lift mask mandate ahead of State of the Union

The moves comes after the CDC eased its mask recommendation for most Americans.

House to lift mask mandate ahead of State of the Union

Unmasked

It is the time to take a look at what we seek to achieve by wearing Purim masks and the breaking down of our covid masking policies. Op-ed.

Unmasked

North Miami Beach:

Parent arrested for calling to torch Jewish school over masks

A parent was arrested after saying he would ‘burn’ down his son’s Orthodox Jewish day school over mask requirements.

Parent arrested for calling to torch Jewish school over masks

Israel Freedom Convoy heads for Jerusalem

Protesters demand cancellation of govt emergency powers, end to discrimination based on vaccination status.

Israel Freedom Convoy heads for Jerusalem

NY is lifting its mask mandates. Will synagogues follow suit?

New York State's mask mandate expires - but will synagogues continue to require wearing masks?

NY is lifting its mask mandates. Will synagogues follow suit?

Watch: Illinois high schoolers stage walkout over mask mandate

"We’ve complied for two years. The science no longer supports it. Neither do we."

Watch: Illinois high schoolers stage walkout over mask mandate

Study:

Kids struggle more than adults to recognize faces behind masks

Mask wearing can impact children's social interactions and ability to form relationships, say researchers from Israel and York University.

Kids struggle more than adults to recognize faces behind masks

New CDC study on mask efficacy under fire for methodology

'The paper is entirely, irredeemably flawed - it shouldn't have been published,' says health researcher as CDC mask study comes under fire.

New CDC study on mask efficacy under fire for methodology

Winsome Sears: This mask mandate will come to an end

Virginia lieutenant governor discusses upcoming Virginia Supreme Court ruling on mask mandates.

Winsome Sears: This mask mandate will come to an end

New York judge strikes down mask mandate

New York judge rules the state's mask mandate is unconstitutional and a violation of state law.

New York judge strikes down mask mandate

Flight to London turns back after woman refuses to mask up

American Airlines plane turns around midflight because a passenger refused to wear a face mask.

Flight to London turns back after woman refuses to mask up

US to distribute N95 masks for free

Biden administration to announce plan to distribute hundreds of millions of free, high-quality masks.

US to distribute N95 masks for free

Mask-refuser attacks bus driver

Man refuses to wear mask in compliance with the law, attacks bus driver.

Mask-refuser attacks bus driver

Israel likely to impose mask mandate at outdoor events

Health Ministry likely to institute mask mandate for events with 100 participants or more, even in the open air.

Israel likely to impose mask mandate at outdoor events

California announces statewide mask mandate

California to impose statewide mask mandate in all indoor public spaces amid sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.

California announces statewide mask mandate

Biden to extend public transit mask mandate through mid-March

The move comes amid concerns over the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

Biden to extend public transit mask mandate through mid-March

Tear gas sprayed on bus driver - over mask request

Police investigating youths who attacked bus driver in Negev Arab city.

Tear gas sprayed on bus driver - over mask request

Watch: Shuttle driver stabs 15-year-old over argument about mask

Driver arrested on suspicion of stabbing youth near station at Galilee school, after youth refused to wear a mask, cursed and spat at him.

Watch: Shuttle driver stabs 15-year-old over argument about mask

GOP member wears ‘Let’s go Brandon’ mask at House

South Carolina Republican Jeff Duncan spotted wearing ‘Let’s go Brandon’ face mask on House floor.

GOP member wears ‘Let’s go Brandon’ mask at House

'Do I need a face mask?' Merkel asks Bennett?

German Chancellor tells PM Bennett she had her second jab three months ago. "Then you're good," he tells her.

'Do I need a face mask?' Merkel asks Bennett?

Police officers resigning in droves over vaccine mandate

Police allege they have not been provided 'reasonable alternatives' to masks.

Police officers resigning in droves over vaccine mandate

Jerusalem couple sues airlines over mask mandates for disabled

Class-action lawsuit filed by 13 flyers from the US and Israel against 7 US airlines alleging civil rights violations.

Jerusalem couple sues airlines over mask mandates for disabled

Florida governor: School board mask mandate 'violates state law'

Gov. Ron DeSantis responds to Sarasota School Board passing a mask mandate for children.

Florida governor: School board mask mandate 'violates state law'

Study: COVID babies have reduced cognitive performance

Study cites face masks, lockdown, and maternal stress as possible causative factors.

Study: COVID babies have reduced cognitive performance

Fla. Gov. threatens salaries of school officials forcing masks

Governor's office says salaries of school officials who violate order prohibiting mask mandates could face 'financial consequences.'

Fla. Gov. threatens salaries of school officials forcing masks

Watch: Man refuses to wear a mask - and is arrested

Man who refused to don mask in an enclosed mall is handcuffed and dragged out, as his wife looks on.

Watch: Man refuses to wear a mask - and is arrested

18 Jewish teenage girls escorted off plane in Amsterdam

Tour group accused of misbehavior and not following mask rules on flight from Kiev to Amsterdam.

18 Jewish teenage girls escorted off plane in Amsterdam

Louisiana reinstates indoor mask mandate

Order will require all individuals 5 years of age and up to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Louisiana reinstates indoor mask mandate

CDC: Vaccinated people should mask up indoors

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues new guidelines on masking in response to spread of Delta variant.

CDC: Vaccinated people should mask up indoors

Los Angeles County to reimpose mask mandate

Los Angeles County will require residents to wear masks in indoor public spaces following spike in cases of COVID-19.

Los Angeles County to reimpose mask mandate

Today At Noon:

Israel reimposes mask mandate

Just days after abolishing mask mandate, Israel reimposes indoor mask requirement.

Israel reimposes mask mandate

Indoor mask mandate to be reimposed next week

Coronavirus Czar Prof. Nachman Ash recommends public begin wearing masks indoors now even before mandate is reinstated.

Indoor mask mandate to be reimposed next week

Report: Health Ministry eyeing mask mandate for summer school

Ministry weighing return of mask mandate in schools, as broader plans for renewed mask requirement under consideration.

Report: Health Ministry eyeing mask mandate for summer school

Are we on the way to lockdown? Drive-thru testing is back

COVID Czar admits latest outbreaks have yet to be contained.

Are we on the way to lockdown? Drive-thru testing is back

Students in Binyamina and Modi'in ordered to wear masks

Health Ministry director signs mask-wearing order for schools in Binyamina and Modi'in.

Students in Binyamina and Modi'in ordered to wear masks

Obligation to wear masks indoors abolished as of Tuesday

Director General of Health Ministry signs order that officially abolishes obligation to wear masks indoors.

Obligation to wear masks indoors abolished as of Tuesday

Brazil's President fined after failing to wear mask in public

Jair Bolsonaro fined for failure to wear a mask after leading thousands of motorcyclist supporters through the streets of Sao Paulo.

Brazil's President fined after failing to wear mask in public

Report: Mask mandate to remain in force in schools

Israel's coronavirus directorate decides to back plan to end mask mandate - except for schoolchildren.

Report: Mask mandate to remain in force in schools

Michigan governor busted for breaking self-imposed COVID rules

Democratic politicians continuing violations of their own rules throughout the country as voters lose trust in elected officials.

Michigan governor busted for breaking self-imposed COVID rules

Sen. John Kennedy asks CDC director what mask rules are

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) asks CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to clarify mask-wearing rules in the US.

Sen. John Kennedy asks CDC director what mask rules are

CDC: Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask

Biden welcomes CDC’s directive as "a great day for America in our long battle with the coronavirus".

CDC: Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask